House convenes with 96 new members

When the 112th Congress opens at noon today, the focus will be on the 87 Republican and 9 Democratic freshmen who are taking the oath of office on a promise to change the way Washington works.

The newcomers include six freshmen lawmakers — all Republicans — from New York.

For Rep.-elect Chris Gibson, R-N.Y., and the other freshmen taking office, today is mostly pomp and circumstance — with a little legislative housekeeping on the side.

Many lawmakers gathered at a Catholic church a block from the Capitol building this morning for a closed-door prayer service.

At noon, the 112th Congress opens with the swearing-in and the election of the 53rd House speaker. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is set to turn over the gavel to Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio.

In Boehner’s opening speech as speaker, he is expected to outline some of the sobering challenges facing the House. “Nearly one in 10 of our neighbors are looking for work. Health care costs are still rising for families and small businesses,” Boehner is slated to say. “Our spending has caught up with us, and our debt will soon eclipse the size of our entire economy. Hard work and tough decisions will be required of the 112th Congress.”

Almost immediately, the newly sworn-in members will begin voting on rules that will govern debate in the chamber over the next two years. And on Friday, the chamber will begin debating legislation that would repeal the health care overhaul enacted last year.

The repeal measure is not likely to become law. It probably will not advance in the narrowly divided Senate, and even if it did, President Barack Obama would almost certainly veto the measure. But the House debate on it will give newly elected lawmakers who campaigned against the health care bill a chance to go on record fighting it.

That includes Gibson. The former Army colonel and Iraq war veteran who criticized “Obamacare” on the campaign trail said he believes it is important for the House to take up the issue, even if it isn’t likely to result in changes to the law books.

“The new majority in the House has to be reflective of the will of the American people,” he said. But, he added, “this is going to have to be worked through a process,” and the Senate is controlled by Democrats who will not always see eye to eye with the Republican leaders in the House. “We recognize we are going to be working with a Senate that is of a different philosophical approach,” Gibson said.

Crowds of family members and friends will be watching today’s festivities from the ceiling-level galleries that overlook the House floor. Gibson’s two youngest children, 11-year-old Maggie and 9-year-old Connor, will be with him on the floor as he takes the oath of office and casts his first votes.

Gibson’s oldest daughter, 13-year-old Katie, will be watching from the galleries with her mother , Mary Jo, because a House rule forbids members from bringing children over age 12 on the floor during sessions.

Other family members in town to watch Gibson’s first day in the House include his brother Bob Gibson, sister Kathleen Allen, and two nephews, Patrick and Matthew Allen. Other aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends also will be on hand.